July 8, 2008
Monthly Board of Commissioners Minutes
A meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Cypress Black Bayou Recreation and Water Conservation District, Bossier Parish, Louisiana was held at the Nature Center Building located inside the Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area, Benton, Louisiana on the above date with the following present:
Present
Ernest Covington
Wes Burdine
Jerry Juneau
Sonny Head
Ralph Whitley
Absent
None
Also Present
Dickie Walden
Sandra Baldwin
James Southerland
Melissa Whittington
Mary and Emmett Smith
James Bates
Bruce Easterly
Mike Strayhan
Tami Benson
Heather Benton
Charles Smith
Tara Shepherd
Joey Shepherd
Judy LaFitte
Albert Lafitte
President Covington called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M.
****At this time the rotation of Officers was as follows: Ernest Covington, President, Wes Burdine, Vice President and Jerry Juneau, Secretary.
****
Motion to approve the Agenda was made by Mr. Burdine, seconded by Mr. Head. The motion was unanimously carried. At this time President Covington requested the board to amend the agenda so Tami Benson could address the board. On motion by Mr. Burdine, seconded by Mr. Head, and unanimously carried, the amended agenda was approved.****
At this time President Covington asked Mr. Walden to read the following letter from the Bossier Levee District concerning an appointment to the board:
July 8, 2008
Mr. Dickie WaldenExecutive Director
Cypress Black Bayou Recreation and Water Conservation District
135 Cypress Park DriveBenton, LA 71006
Dear Mr. Walden:
It is with great pleasure that the Levee District appoints Mr. Ralph Whitley, as representative for the Bossier Levee District to the Cypress Black Bayou Board. Mr. Whitley will fill the unexpired term of Mr. Jimmy Huckabay who resigned last month.If additional information is needed, please advise.
Sincerely,Mary Jane Easterly
Administrative Manager
cc: Mr. Ralph Whitley
On motion by Mr. Juneau, seconded by Mr. Burdine and unanimously carried, Mr. Whitley’s appointment was approved. Mr. Covington welcomed Mr. Whitley to the board.
****Motion to approve the minutes of June 10, 2008 was made by Mr. Head, seconded by Mr. Juneau and unanimously carried.
****Motion to approve the May and June, 2008 revenue and expenditures and July bills for payment was made by Mr. Burdine, seconded by Mr. Head and unanimously carried.
****At this time Melissa Whittington gave the following:
Nature Center report:
Total number of guest to the Nature Center during June, 2008 was 797.4H University Competitions are over. Your standings for competitions:
Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program Trip winner was:
Maggie Brakeville – 4th place Blue Ribbon.
Outdoor Skills Bossier Team #1 –
8th Place blue ribbon winner Derek Moore,
10th Place Blue Ribbon winner Ben Moore,
4th place Blue Ribbon Overall Team ATV individuals – Three top ten blue ribbon winners.
4H Shooting Sports National Invitational was held in Nebraska.
Coming events:Cypress Nature Study Center will host two days of SCI-Fi Super Follow Up workshops on July 9 – 10. Teachers from Caddo and Bossier will be in attendance on both days.
July 14-15 Dan Wolff will hold a Boater Safety Coarse from 5-8 here at the nature center. If you know of anyone that needs to take this coarse please let them know about this opportunity.
Teacher Inservice Days will be August 14-15 with students starting back to school on Monday, August 18, 2008.
****Old Business:
Mr. James Bates, CPA, reviewed the 2007 annual Audit. There were no findings for the audit period dated December 31, 2007.
Flowage Easement contour Line Agreement, George Bakowski and CBB. Mr. Southerland stated that as soon as the new flowage easement contour line was completed this agreement needed to be signed and recorded. On motion by Mr. Head, seconded by Mr. Juneau and unanimously carried, President Covington was authorized to sign this agreement on behalf of the Board.
Mr. and Mrs. LaFitte approached the board to for clarification on their “lake house”. After much discussion, the board concluded that the lake house was below the flowage easement contour line and if the Lafittes would have the area surveyed to determine the height to raise the lake house above the flowage easement line, it would be permitted. Mr. Easterly told the LaFittes he would be glad to check the structure when completed.
****New Business:
Tami Benson requested a meeting with the commissioners in Executive Session. On motion by Mr. Head, seconded by Mr. Juneau and unanimously carried the Executive Session would be held after all other business and attended by Tami Benson, Dickie Walden, Charles Smith and James Southerland.
****Bruce Easterly’s Report:
CBB’s Capital Outlay request for road overlay will be $49,000 with CBB matching that amount. He stated with the cost of materials going up CBB should have an increase of $25,000 to $30,000 more. He will get some pricing on piling and information on the oxidation pond at a later date.
****Executive Director’s Report:
To date no sightings of salvinia have been found except by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries north of the bridge on Highway 162. Several landowners are involved with watching for the salvinia.
We received reimbursement from the Bossier Parish Police Jury in the amount of $15,000 for vegetation control.
We continue to do well financially with revenue up and expenses down.
At this time the Board of Commissioners went into Executive Session with Tami Benson, Dickie Walden, Charles Smith and James Southerland in attendance.
The Board of Commissioners adjourned the Executive Session with no action taken.
****There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
______________________ _______________________
Ernest Covington, President Jerry Juneau, Secretary